A number of European Union countries have urged the bloc to take action to reduce agricultural surpluses as cheap grain imports from Ukraine flooded markets in neighboring countries, reducing demand for local produce and triggering protests by farmers, writes Bloomberg..

The European Commission is considering reviewing the decision to suspend duties and quotas on Ukrainian agri-food exports in the coming weeks.

At a meeting of EU agriculture ministers, six Eastern European countries, led by Poland, called for the introduction of a compensation mechanism for farmers. They also demanded to revise the customs agreement, as well as to block transit routes so that Ukrainian grain and other products could reach third countries without creating problems for Europe..

Last year, the EU temporarily lifted duties and quotas on Ukrainian agricultural products to help free up grain that was in Russia-blocked Black Sea ports and therefore could not be exported..

“I briefed the ministers on the problems that farmers in neighboring countries face with the import of Ukrainian grain, which was planned to be sent to Western Europe and Africa,” Polish Minister of Agriculture Henryk Kowalczyk told reporters in Brussels..

According to him, some of this grain remains in neighboring countries, so local farmers have problems selling their crops..

According to a document presented at the meeting, corn imports from Ukraine to Poland rose to 1.6 million tons from January to November last year, more than a quarter more than in the corresponding period of 2021..

Imports to Hungary jumped to over 900,000 tons from 5,000 tons earlier, while imports to Bulgaria reached 16,742 tons from 361 tons..

“Significant imports of products from a single source during the national harvest resulted in market disruption in all Member States involved. Part of the imported grain goes to domestic processing enterprises, which leads to a decrease in demand for domestic grain,” the document says..

“We are ready to continue to help Ukraine, there is no turning back. But we want to involve the entire EU in resolving this issue,” Kowalczyk stressed..

The European Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski announced the need to revise the free trade agreement with Ukraine and impose restrictions on the import of certain foodstuffs back in December last year.. Then it was also about the problems and losses suffered by local farmers.

Earlier, the European Commission denied statements about the plight of EU farmers due to the alleged influx of Ukrainian grain..

Most Ukrainian grain shipped to Europe was destined for countries in the Middle East and Africa, such as Egypt..